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Experience Europe: First Essential Steps

This module provides a basic understanding of EU political dynamics, key players, and ways for local organizations to connect with Europe. Topics include European political priorities, EU institutions, and channels linking local and EU levels.

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Experience Europe: First Essential Steps

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  1. “Experience Europe series" Module 1 Getting closer to Europe : First essential steps Brussels, November 2017

  2. Module overview and objectives Key topics to beaddressed: 1. European political priorities 2. Who’s Who in Brussels 3. Channels linking local & EU level 4. Understanding “Eurospeak” Module learning outcomes: Two-hour session, aiming to provide basic understanding of EU political dynamics, key players, key concepts, key ways to link up to Europe as a local/regional/national civil society organisation. Target audience: National/regional/local organisations in the COFACE network. External partners.

  3. I. European Political Priorities

  4. I. European politicalpriorities Media coverage: Economic and monetary union, Migration, Security/defence, Brexit, EU budget Reality-check: Annual Commission work programme(published in October every year)every year October)

  5. I. European politicalpriorities: Social Europe Europe 2020/European Semester - Economic growth, benchmarking >> Social investment package - Policy guidance >> European Pillar of Social Rights - compass for actions >> Innovation &Transnational exchanges (EASI programme) >> Worklifebalance directive - family leaves >> European Accessibility Act - impact on disability >> Coordination of social security/social policy >> Cohesion funds - redistribution to regions, ESF, ERDF >>

  6. I. European politicalpriorities: Social Europe in your country Europe 2020 - National Reform Programme + Country-Specific Recommendations + Desk officer in your capitals Social Investment Package - Peer exchanges on child/family policy (between NGOs, between governments) European Accessibility Act - improved accessibility of products Coordination of social security/social policy - Enhance free movement of citizens Redistribution of funds - Direct funding for local projects European pillar of social rights - Directive on worklife balance

  7. I. European politicalpriorities: European Pillar of Social Rights Compass for social/employment performance Long-term vision and goals for social Europe 20 social principles Soft law (vs hard law) First deliverable: WorkLife balance package

  8. II. Who’s Who in Brussels

  9. II. Who’s Who in Brussels: General overview • EU institutions • European Commission - takes initiative • Council of Ministers - approves initiatives • European Parliament - approves initiatives • EU advisory bodies • Committee of the Regions - advises • Economic and social committee - advises

  10. II. Who’s Who in Brussels: General overview European networks (lobbies): civil society, families, public authorities, foundations, industry, trade unions, hospitals, user groups. Brussels-based. Permanent representations of national government - involved in Council working groups. All Brussels-based. Meet weekly. Intergovernmental committees/networks: ESF, EASI, social protection, employment, disability, gender equality. From capitals. Meet regularly in Brussels.

  11. II. Who’s Who in Brussels: General overview European networks (lobbies): civil society, families, public authorities, foundations, industry, trade unions, hospitals, user groups. Brussels-based. Permanent representations of national government - involved in Council working groups. All Brussels-based. Meet weekly. Intergovernmental committees/networks: ESF, EASI, social protection, employment, disability, gender equality. From capitals. Meet regularly in Brussels.

  12. II. Who’s Who in Brussels: Your country European Commission - country desk officers (eg social affairs, regional affairs) European Parliament - elected politicians representing regions and different political ideologies, pushing different agendas Council of Ministers - social affairs ministers meet at least 4 times/year to take key decisions and agree common messages Committee of the Regions - elected representatives from your regions (mayors, president of regions, etc) to provide feedback on local social developments and seize EU opportunities European Economic and Social Committee - nominated from civil society, trade unions, employers - tripartite

  13. II. Who’s Who in Brussels: Your country • European networks • National civil society organisations • City and regional representations • Company representations • Permanent representations • Social affairs, gender equality, migration “attachés” • Social questions working party • Intergovernmental committees • ESF committee - managing authority meets in Brussels • Social Protection Committee - social affairs civil servants • High Level Group on disability - disability civil servants

  14. III. Channelslinking local & EU level

  15. III. Key channels: Europe to local European Commission European Parliament Committee of the Regions European networks Permanent representations in Brussels European projects Structural funds

  16. III. Channels: European Commission EC representations in your capital Officers working on different topics Check organisation chart, link up. EC Newsletters, Social media EC Fact-finding missions, conferences EU public consultations - have your say

  17. III. Channels: European Parliament Membersof European Parliament (MEP) Brussels office + Local office Committees: EMPL, FEMM, IMCO Newsletters, Social media Listeningto local voters (2019 elections) Sendthemyourconcerns, studies, questions

  18. III. Channels: EU Committee of the Regions Elected representatives from your country Mayors, presidents of regions, provinces, etc Committee: SEDEC - social affairs + education Newsletters, social media Send them your feedback

  19. III. Channels: European Networks Huge diversity: mostly membership-based Different topics: families, disability, services, self-advocates, racism, consumers, patients, SMEs etc Voice concerns at EU level through common positions Transnational exchanges/transfer of innovation Take Europe to the local level through meetings Support and capacity building on EU matters - helpdesk Social media/newsletters

  20. III. Channels: Permanent representation of goverments National governments (but also regional and local governments) office in Brussels Direct links with capitals Prepares positions of Council on legislation Manages the EU presidency -BG, AT, RO, FI, HR, DE Organisation of Brussels-based seminars and presidency conferences Social media

  21. III. Channels: European projects Different EU funding programmes Build partnerships and expertise on specific topics Enhanced cooperation with specific countries Upscaling local innovation to other countries Activities: seminars, study visits, toolkits, data Funding for European exchanges + innovation + capacity building, not for local projects

  22. III. Channels: Structural and investmentfunds National Managing Authority (social affairs ministry or external body) Manages funds allocated to a country, through “operational programmes” Political priorities in each country, guided by EU priorities (negotiations with Commission) Direct funding for local projects (and sometimes European exchanges) Send Managing authorities info about local needs - preparation of new post-2020 budget

  23. IV. UnderstandingEurospeak

  24. IV. UnderstandingEurospeak: Origins Consensus across 28 countries - language of compromise Social Eurospeak: linking social agenda to other agendas Semantic battle in “English”-ish. Common language needed to move forward together Brussels bubble - far away from reality EU concept then translates differently into 28 realities

  25. IV. UnderstandingEurospeak: Translation of EU concepts Social investment = reduce costs, economic, invest in people Active inclusion = supporting people onto the labour market WorkLife balance/reconciliation = employment/families Social/health infrastructure= services Social innovation = social policy/service innovation Free movement = migration across EU borders De-institutionalisation = disability, ageing, service reform

  26. IV. UnderstandingEurospeak: Linking local needs to EU priorities Use of local language/concepts to draw attention (studies, services, programmes) - make EU references where possible/desirable (e.g. letter from COFACE) Translate results into “European” language for more impact - select channel strategically Filter through COFACE - daily business of secretariat to make links between EU and local level. Helpdesk. Push local developments/needs to EU level - semantic impact on future EU priorities

  27. Conclusions & NextSteps

  28. « Experience Europe » in the future • Module evaluation and feedback: • Useful? What to add/change? • Next module topics for 2018? EU funding, Disability, Digitalisation, Worklife balance, Consumer policy? • Suggested actions and next steps: • Strengthen links between members and COFACE network (by participating in advocacy, expert groups, campaigns, information flow) • Involve your members/staff in Europe - use this training module if helpful • Build links with country representatives in Brussels as part of an EU strategy for your organisation, and EU representatives at home.

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